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"hamstrings" poems
Elizabeth and God exist in a sunflower grave. Her mother and father slit her stomach open and watched the contents pour out like spaghetti confetti. Tommy, Elizabeth's boyfriend, rode his ocean blue Huffy, until the tread on his tires grew bald and until the grips were blanketed by dead skin. Looking for her, panoramic views of the horizon leapt beside him. Silhouettes of his legs, churned and kissed the orange and caramel dusk. With every tear in his hamstrings and calves, the **** in his sky grew and swallowed the memory of Elizabeth Mendenhall, Honor Student. Margot, Elizabeth's twelve year-old sister, was an idealistic soul. Taking a Sharpie, she wrote on her sister's wall, "Liz, there is no death greater than the loss of self, and no life greater than one where we continuously search for what self is." Margot struggled with concentrating and frying eggs - but focused on the sunflower garden, dangerously and perfectly. Hilary and Brendan were thirty-five and thirty-six years-old. They stabbed their daughter thirty-seven times. They don't know why they did it, they just couldn't think of a reason not to do it. She begged for her life. The yellow petals of the sunflowers caught blood-drops and, after enough struggle, floated down to kiss and lay on Elizabeth's slow-twitch body. Hilary looked at Brendan and said, "What does this mean?" Brendan shrugged and said, "This is new to me." The garden was an oven, and digging her grave was like pulling back on a cheap, plastic latch. Elizabeth had pale, pre-cooked pie crust skin. The slits in her stomach looked like peeks into a cherry stuffed filling. Crinkled lips looked indented by a stainless steel fork, back and forth, side to side. And the soil rained upon her like the reversal of hot vapor, returning home. Elizabeth and the Sunflower Garden.
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May 21, 2015
May 21, 2015 at 5:37 AM UTC
Elizabeth and the Sunflower Garden
Elizabeth and God exist in a sunflower grave. Her mother and father slit her stomach open and watched the contents pour out like spaghetti confetti. Tommy, Elizabeth's boyfriend, rode his ocean blue Huffy, until the tread on his tires grew bald and until the grips were blanketed by dead skin. Looking for her, panoramic views of the horizon leapt beside him. Silhouettes of his legs, churned and kissed the orange and caramel dusk. With every tear in his hamstrings and calves, the **** in his sky grew and swallowed the memory of Elizabeth Mendenhall, Honor Student. Margot, Elizabeth's twelve year-old sister, was an idealistic soul. Taking a Sharpie, she wrote on her sister's wall, "Liz, there is no death greater than the loss of self, and no life greater than one where we continuously search for what self is." Margot struggled with concentrating and frying eggs - but focused on the sunflower garden, dangerously and perfectly. Hilary and Brendan were thirty-five and thirty-six years-old. They stabbed their daughter thirty-seven times. They don't know why they did it, they just couldn't think of a reason not to do it. She begged for her life. The yellow petals of the sunflowers caught blood-drops and, after enough struggle, floated down to kiss and lay on Elizabeth's slow-twitch body. Hilary looked at Brendan and said, "What does this mean?" Brendan shrugged and said, "This is new to me." The garden was an oven, and digging her grave was like pulling back on a cheap, plastic latch. Elizabeth had pale, pre-cooked pie crust skin. The slits in her stomach looked like peeks into a cherry stuffed filling. Crinkled lips looked indented by a stainless steel fork, back and forth, side to side. And the soil rained upon her like the reversal of hot vapor, returning home. Elizabeth and the Sunflower Garden.
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8
Harried, Harassed, Hassled and Hounded- These are the H-words I work by. Harpies and Henchmen, Harridans and Heathens- These are the H-folk I work with. Hubbub and Hokum and Hurly-burly- These are the places I do it. Hoodlums and Hooligans, loaded with Hubris- These are the clients I deal with. Heartless and Horrible, Hateful and Hurtful These are the attitudes around me. Hopeless and Hapless, Haggard and Helpless- This is the way I usually feel. What happened to Happy, and Hopeful and Harmony- These are the H-words I search for. Hinder and Hobble, Heckle and Hamper- These are the Hamstrings that trip me. Heaven and Harmony, Humor and Honor- These are the things that I strive for. Havoc and Hades, Hurt, Hate and Hauteur- These are the H’s that I have to conquer. Hope, Help, and Herculean effort- Is How I will finally get myself Home. ljm
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Feb 25, 2017
Feb 25, 2017 at 12:30 AM UTC
THE H-WORDS
an octagon tent wide enough that chucking rollies to the sand made impossible sprawled layers you turned to quote Dali told me how pale blue washed with lucy shimmered skyline into dimension acryllic-smeared sass drips canvas into murmurs circling dilation dimethyltryptamine stains painting dreams on my eyelids with flowerbrushes and silk, mushroom dust gathers in discarded hues on your pallet, where the colors of your irises dry into a nebula of night-blooming jasmine the scent of how you move when you sleep and sleeping is never so sweet as dancing through lucidity with you as my sheets. and i've traced your thumbprint so often i'm sure if it were stretched around a marble like buffalo skin on spirit-caller drums, a globe would be seen in which Greenland is finally proportionate-- the map on my wall always bothers you, but I do too, and everyone does, urging me under the geography etched into the sea of your surface by the crucible of your purpose and working me into empty behind your right below the 22 between i'ching and the forty two names of god clasping your fore in silver copper wound around my finger hamstrings woven like wire kambaba jasper, two to share you hang Tibetan tektites to elevate space meteorite fragments lodged in your helix, stardust blood, mandala sand from your mother, and our tendons wrappe by dexterous carpals make such a pretty pendant of my heart, for synesthesia mistakes not and my addiction to the pen has eased for you breathe murals and syllables never could match brushtrokes of carbon dioxide.
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Aug 7, 2013
Aug 7, 2013 at 1:13 PM UTC
an epic (past due)
an octagon tent wide enough that chucking rollies to the sand made impossible sprawled layers you turned to quote Dali told me how pale blue washed with lucy shimmered skyline into dimension acryllic-smeared sass drips canvas into murmurs circling dilation dimethyltryptamine stains painting dreams on my eyelids with flowerbrushes and silk, mushroom dust gathers in discarded hues on your pallet, where the colors of your irises dry into a nebula of night-blooming jasmine the scent of how you move when you sleep and sleeping is never so sweet as dancing through lucidity with you as my sheets. and i've traced your thumbprint so often i'm sure if it were stretched around a marble like buffalo skin on spirit-caller drums, a globe would be seen in which Greenland is finally proportionate-- the map on my wall always bothers you, but I do too, and everyone does, urging me under the geography etched into the sea of your surface by the crucible of your purpose and working me into empty behind your right below the 22 between i'ching and the forty two names of god clasping your fore in silver copper wound around my finger hamstrings woven like wire kambaba jasper, two to share you hang Tibetan tektites to elevate space meteorite fragments lodged in your helix, stardust blood, mandala sand from your mother, and our tendons wrappe by dexterous carpals make such a pretty pendant of my heart, for synesthesia mistakes not and my addiction to the pen has eased for you breathe murals and syllables never could match brushtrokes of carbon dioxide.
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53
Rest easy, read these heavy words of slumber, tap your chest to the beat of your heart, empty out breath even from the deepest parts the void, will fill itself, with sleep, I hope for your sake. Scrunch those toes to close, then let them relax and let go, Half close those toes and let them loose, shake them once and again, Tense those calves, feet pointed at the ceiling, if you are willing, Go half way and shake the tension away, from you, Quads and hamstrings, next remember in pretext, full and halfway, shake the tension away,, gluteus maximus then abdominals and lower back and in their turn chest, those pecs to reflex and relax latissimus dorsi, my oh my you got your back shoulders, hands of fingers, just like the toes, pretty soon you might doze, forearms, biceps and triceps too, neck and face shrug and scrunch, you don't have the answer, so pucker your face, eyes are the last close them once, eyes are the last close them half, eyes are the last, I hope you never read this far, unless you are awake, after a night of rest fullness, so if it does not work, know this, I will sit by your side so you can unwind, I have a good year for listening, on pillow soft words, for you to put your sleepy heavy head. Good...night...yawn
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Sep 8, 2013
Sep 8, 2013 at 12:34 AM UTC
I am not an insomniac, I take that back, You are not an Insomniac
my fingers are spindles of thread, unwoven from blankets of strong women who fought harder fights than I could withstand. my neck is a porcelain clock. engraved with wisps of words, it's cogs churning to keep my brain functioning. my torso is an storm. lightning leaves scars acrioss the lining of my stomach, spreading out like spiderwebs, covered in dew. thunderheads boom when I walk, rattling my ribs and awakening this hummingbird heart. my spine is a garden, blooming. daisys and forget-me-nots bloom from the soil tilled into my veterbrae. My hamstrings are tightrope across the twin towers, quivering. My knees are doorknobs left unturned, the room contents dusty and cobwebs string the corners.
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Aug 27, 2014
Aug 27, 2014 at 12:46 AM UTC
anatomy
Stale greens served again At the same tables Echoed conversations amidst the Glow of brilliant faces In a room, a windowless Place of task and Of mere knowing We traded desire for Errant follow-though Like chapped lips locked Where we might have gone - A mouth of salty water - If we had not stayed - A chassis’ curdled rust - We dream of tired eyes Sleepless till the dawn Sore hamstrings while running Chasing the stuff unknown A lemon meringue First **** then toothsome So inspired by where we reach
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Jan 27, 2013
Jan 27, 2013 at 7:27 PM UTC
The Run
cannot live by living sublimate intractable life the way a poet of mangled hands burns away incessant blankness to a hot glowing moment wherein his excision, sought after, lives. Whatever way is taken a fire therein will burn to majestically disfigure the unfigurable in your life the way a drinking straw made of plastic transforms in lips of flame to curlicued ribbons and blazing involutions, coiled springs and brightly curled imaginings of crimson. Choose to run and so too will the fibers in your hamstrings curl, glow crimson as under fire. Sit quiet on the marble steps of a dried fountain in Union Square watching the looming arch through the crisp distance of night and so too will your eyes become incendiary orbs heating the air around to transient veritable sharpness as if suddenly, every piece of stone or root of tree has been released from a hold and could at any moment flinch for you. For just your witness and nothing more. Attempt to find the dream of death hidden within the taste of your one beauty’s lips and so upon the kiss will she burn, explode! in quick high flame to a pile of shrunk dust and scintillating strands of hair. Whichever way, all can burn to release its true form—hardly sweet seeming unbearable before curling just barely sweet, just bearably, always just necessarily so. And slowly, you are already curling in the flames.
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Mar 27, 2012
Mar 27, 2012 at 12:10 AM UTC
For Those Who
You once said that home was wherever you make it I found my home in the comfort of our secret language And the way you knew when I needed to run And the way I knew the meaning behind every syllable In your music I remembered your birthday You forgot mine But that's alright Our relationship has been stretched hamstrings Since you've been gone, And these songs are the hollow boneyard I fumble through Melodies Strings of smoke Slipping through my hands You're missing Christmas I'm missing your life Sometimes I wonder if you remember the brother stars And the trees And the whales we sang about in the kitchen And the mulberry pen ink Sometimes I wonder if you remember me As the shore you greeted each morning When you rolled in If the whisper of these words Ever carry through the wind And reach you Please take this and know That the shore will still be there When your wave washes in I will still be here Singing
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Dec 21, 2016
Dec 21, 2016 at 1:30 AM UTC
Homeless
Adorned once again in somber black, standing in a row all inhale an aroma of purifying incense from burning charcoal inside a Thurible flowing in coherence with the arm of the balding priest who prances as a peacock, circling three times past the altar table. Buttocks bump against weathered and worn relic pews. Muscles strain to tighten hamstrings sending messages telling the body to please sit. Tears flow without the gush that erupted a year ago. Now the gentle drain is like shallow hillside waterfalls in autumn. Grievous pain is so familiar except the lava of volcanic emotions has cooled. Tissues passed from hand to hand as those who anticipated the display take care of those sure they would not cry or who merely denied the tempo of the day. Incantations dwell near the icons splashed gloriously on the wall. Chants to forgive sins of the deceased combine with pleas for divine intervention to elevate the Valhalla home upward a notch or two. Blessed wine and sacred bread distributed to all who keep the faith as did the beloved son, husband, and brother.
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Jul 22, 2015
Jul 22, 2015 at 10:51 AM UTC
The Year Memorial*
My heels clip on London concrete. My hamstrings strain To increase my stride. I slalom around Pavement zombies, Phone junkies, Loitering monkeys. Don’t they see? I’m late for a meeting With a client of grandeur. A key player. A major money man. (I can’t drop the name Due to a Signed NDA). It was suppose to be A blue sky meeting On a grey winters morning. But I slept too long, And the tube Went wrong, And now I’ve Got the dreads. If I’m late, My rep will be tarnished. I’ll never secure Another meeting again. Because in this town, Time is a diamond We can’t possess. But we know it exists; Out there on the outskirts, Out there in the sticks. It’s below freezing but I’m Working a sweat; A pavement cardio, A sidewalk rodeo, A street athletics show. There’s no way I am going To be on time. It’s curtains for me; I’ve sealed my P45. Finally I arrive. I collapse at the entrance, My power-walk ending In a muted reception. I approach the desk. ‘Yes?’ Glared a future X-factor entrant. ‘Good morning. I’m here to see The top brass. The big cheese. The head honcho. I was delayed, but please, Pass my humblest regrets, I am spinning a lie Which I hope he accepts.’ ‘I’m sorry, sir,’ The young lady chewed. ‘The Great Man is away, Tanning on a beach. You’ll need to reschedule; He returns in two weeks.’
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Jan 6, 2017
Jan 6, 2017 at 5:29 AM UTC
Rushed
There are few responses that fit when you fall away from all the things you love most. After so many reinventions, so many changes I don't know who I am anymore. I thought I knew what I was chasing, but in the end, I was wrong. I've changed directions and I can't get back, even to where home is a distant memory. I can't recognize my surroundings, the world I built with my choices. All doors are locked and windows closed, walls are padded, eyes are dim. I don't want to die trapped in my own foolish insecurities and mistakes. I don't want to become just a soldier, marching this lonely road to the end. I hate looking in the mirror and seeing my own accusing eyes, reminding me. Rip and tear, claw and bring to ruin this palatial tower of misrepresentation. Wear my fingers to the bone with insignificant self-promises and fleeting hope. I will be free one day. Silence the voice of failure and my near silent misgivings that cut the hamstrings of hope and push me deeper into the prison of despair and self loathing. I will be free.
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Apr 15, 2014
Apr 15, 2014 at 9:26 AM UTC
The Prison
Breathe deep, fill your lungs expanding the chest to extend life slowly release with lips tightly pursed til the emptyness seems to make you gasp eyes defocus as if emptyed of life waiting for the next ******* in of air when it comes they focus again taking in the view over the vallys below Legs give a tremour, muscles exhausted knees requesting a seat to relieve the weight hamstrings are tight, threatening to snap tendons strained at the ankles, stretched just to far and all you can think as you stand there looking back from the direction that you came and shaking your head unbelieving the pain is why did I attempt to ride up this ****** hill
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Jul 13, 2025
Jul 13, 2025 at 3:28 PM UTC
Thinking the worst
Why bother. It is a pointless folly To try. Life has no Inner meaning, No hope, No beauty, Only pain. If I want to leave, There are many ways. I can jump off of my roof, Diving head first To our cement sidewalk. I can slice open my wrists and Cut my hamstrings So that I cannot Move, Simply lying there, Bleeding out. I can take a full glass, Enough to get me drunk, Then another Then another Until I am too far gone, Destroyed by alcohol, But mostly by myself. I could grab some rope, Like the character in my book, With all his little details Based off of me, Tie it into a noose and Swing it around the ceiling fan In my room, Tying it tight as I Stand upon my Woven blue office chair, Then sticking my neck Through the hole and Kicking away the chair, Kicking away the pain. I could stab myself, Only once, Aiming for my neck, Hoping to sever the cord That keeps me alive. But all of that, Save maybe the alcohol, Seems like far too much trouble To set up. It’s too hard to Tie the rope, Sever the skin, Or stab in Through my neck. Perhaps I could just walk up, Up to my room, Up upon my bed, Rolling open the window, Crawl out and Make a small jump out to the roof, Scrambling to hold on. Maybe then I’d find Some glory in the struggle, Some faint reason to live. But more likely I’d simply Cut out the middle man, Save myself from the pain, And leap off, Face-first, Towards the solid ground. I want to die, But without the effort Of killing myself. I don’t think I’ll do something To end my own life, But if a car was coming Straight at me, At a killing speed, I don’t think I’d jump out Of the way.
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Nov 30, 2015
Nov 30, 2015 at 2:42 PM UTC
Why Bother?
Why bother. It is a pointless folly To try. Life has no Inner meaning, No hope, No beauty, Only pain. If I want to leave, There are many ways. I can jump off of my roof, Diving head first To our cement sidewalk. I can slice open my wrists and Cut my hamstrings So that I cannot Move, Simply lying there, Bleeding out. I can take a full glass, Enough to get me drunk, Then another Then another Until I am too far gone, Destroyed by alcohol, But mostly by myself. I could grab some rope, Like the character in my book, With all his little details Based off of me, Tie it into a noose and Swing it around the ceiling fan In my room, Tying it tight as I Stand upon my Woven blue office chair, Then sticking my neck Through the hole and Kicking away the chair, Kicking away the pain. I could stab myself, Only once, Aiming for my neck, Hoping to sever the cord That keeps me alive. But all of that, Save maybe the alcohol, Seems like far too much trouble To set up. It’s too hard to Tie the rope, Sever the skin, Or stab in Through my neck. Perhaps I could just walk up, Up to my room, Up upon my bed, Rolling open the window, Crawl out and Make a small jump out to the roof, Scrambling to hold on. Maybe then I’d find Some glory in the struggle, Some faint reason to live. But more likely I’d simply Cut out the middle man, Save myself from the pain, And leap off, Face-first, Towards the solid ground. I want to die, But without the effort Of killing myself. I don’t think I’ll do something To end my own life, But if a car was coming Straight at me, At a killing speed, I don’t think I’d jump out Of the way.
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82
in a Mexican orange the sombrero will strike a word here hamstrings sing above their bright colors allure and mariachi moon dance with the setting sun does whisper god's words now these eyes shall blaze the rapture to fulfill a dream
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Jun 14, 2018
Jun 14, 2018 at 9:00 AM UTC
Dream A Mexican
Butchers used to hang their pigs (ham) by the tendons (strings) in the back of the knee. The Hamstrings are actually 3 different muscles that work together to extend the hip and flex the knee. Basically the hamstrings most important job is to make sure your leg doesn’t fly off your body when you run. Yes, Found words with capitals. Then there are cheeestrings which i find taste of nothing in particular. He was not tongue tied in the medical sesnse, he stammered and was bullied over it. While I stood by with love and embarrasment . We have since learned a thing or more. Then there is the thread to consider, yet I understand that some use thorns. Stories continue of bound feet and crippling people. He suggested that body dysmorhia may be at the heart of things. bdd. I fear he may be right. Research Albino. sbm.
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Feb 6, 2017
Feb 6, 2017 at 1:48 AM UTC
.. in a word ..
Doctor gave me the news, it was a good time to buy new running shoes, Feet slap and screech with each stride, Biomechanic required to repair the ride, Pounds shed I no longer dread pounding, lightly on concrete or asphalt, grounding, My turbulent times, no reason or rhyme, To the day, my thoughts have plenty of time, To play as I run away from home, smiling, So pleased to be alone among the crowd, filing, On and off busses, engines make noises like cusses, Cars eating people, personalities seated in trusses, For their own safety, While heels kick back, legs move at the speed, and pace where there is always sound and greed, To be first to run the red-light but On my heart right to that red line, Hamstrings cry taute like strings, My mind wanders to many things, To some people, to a person, Beckon me run, all that way And I will. How did I get here? at least a year in the making, took on the job, it was a terrible mess of an undertaking, If I can do it so can you, Don't wait till your fifty four, Start when your thirty nine, Write down all that you eat, You recognize each day the feat, To stop eating, at the right point. Get enough sleep, Aerobic activity, found a British study from, London see? Muscular mobility, range of motion under load agree, let me, ask you, What did you do as a child, how did you have physical fun, what did you do in your youth, not to relive the pain, and the strain of bad coaching or none. Capture your life as first prize in the only race that counts, living to beat of the distant drum, you run I will follow, you set the pace, I will holler your arrival, to set your rival, Death on his heels, we will chase him back the way, he came, that will be your claim, "Raced Death and Still Running"
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Jul 10, 2014
Jul 10, 2014 at 2:06 AM UTC
Fit over Fifty From Me to You
Doctor gave me the news, it was a good time to buy new running shoes, Feet slap and screech with each stride, Biomechanic required to repair the ride, Pounds shed I no longer dread pounding, lightly on concrete or asphalt, grounding, My turbulent times, no reason or rhyme, To the day, my thoughts have plenty of time, To play as I run away from home, smiling, So pleased to be alone among the crowd, filing, On and off busses, engines make noises like cusses, Cars eating people, personalities seated in trusses, For their own safety, While heels kick back, legs move at the speed, and pace where there is always sound and greed, To be first to run the red-light but On my heart right to that red line, Hamstrings cry taute like strings, My mind wanders to many things, To some people, to a person, Beckon me run, all that way And I will. How did I get here? at least a year in the making, took on the job, it was a terrible mess of an undertaking, If I can do it so can you, Don't wait till your fifty four, Start when your thirty nine, Write down all that you eat, You recognize each day the feat, To stop eating, at the right point. Get enough sleep, Aerobic activity, found a British study from, London see? Muscular mobility, range of motion under load agree, let me, ask you, What did you do as a child, how did you have physical fun, what did you do in your youth, not to relive the pain, and the strain of bad coaching or none. Capture your life as first prize in the only race that counts, living to beat of the distant drum, you run I will follow, you set the pace, I will holler your arrival, to set your rival, Death on his heels, we will chase him back the way, he came, that will be your claim, "Raced Death and Still Running"
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49
hi again darling, this week I worked so hard my hamstrings are screeching from sitting, and somehow I’ve learned to sleep eyes wide open. Honey I’m tired but I don’t mind bringing home bacon. after all, if you’re going to call me lakshmi of the house, I better find some gold before you blow the conch. this week I worked through a sea of dead names and dead faces of friendly strangers that kinda looked like you and I toiled through another pandemic-ridden seven days even from home I’m wearing a mask because it’s too hard to see tragedy and be working instead. So on my break I retweet fleet, press some of that goddess gold into the digital donations, because even a world away even if you don’t see it, there’s little wealth in work.
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Jun 26, 2020
Jun 26, 2020 at 10:08 AM UTC
no wealth in work
I stretched myself to reach the length of the earth Ripped and tore my hamstrings Dislocated my joints to wrap around the earth Felt so big I knew I was the beginning and end Let my tears fertilize the soils I gave birth to spring And let the moon baptize my son I looked around and asked for the world to remember me Beyond Nefertiti, I am the woman who washed her feet I too am worth being celebrated
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Jun 27, 2020
Jun 27, 2020 at 6:41 PM UTC
Unseen Women